Discussion

Let’s make a list of obnoxiously loud restos

For some reason, the concept of many new and otherwise worthy Camberville restaurants seems to feature a ridiculously loud ambience (by means of hard surfaces, extremely amplified music, or usually both) which all but precludes any normal conversation while dining. Recent posts have cited First Printer, Painted Burro, Highland Kitchen, and others as extreme examples. Obviously, many people are drawn to such an environment, but many others appreciate a moderately-priced dining option that doesn’t involve shouting to be heard. As a service to BOTH camps, I’d like to assemble a list of Camb/Som places to either patronize or avoid, depending on one’s tolerance for noise.

Second. I would love to go there more often, but it is just miserable. That single reason has made me cross it off the list forever, even though I would probably be a regular otherwise. I haven't noticed the same noise level at the Boston branch.

I love Posto but the owners seem to be confused about the difference between "lively" and "ridiculously loud". At both Posto and their new Painted Burro restaurant, they've removed everything that can soften/baffle sound, put in lots of hardwood floors, and then play club music during the busiest times. I mentioned on a separate thread that during my most recent visit to Painted Burro, my server had to go over my order by just showing me her notes, because she couldn't hear me and I couldn't hear her over the din.

Posto hasn't changed - we just went for the first time Sunday night and couldn't talk at all, luckily it was just my husband and me and we didn't mind! Had we been with friends/family it would have been really annoying. Too bad because pizza was very good.

Quick followup on this thread... the owners of the Painted Burro seem to have turned the music down quite a bit between my last visit and a recent one; I was actually able to hold conversations with my tablemates.

walk in, turn to the left where the tables are, and it's the first table right next to the restrooms, in the corner. speaker right above that table. You notice it more when the restaurant is about half empty.It might just be me and my DC; we have a special needs child who's very sensitive to ambient noise and even when we aren't with him, it bothers me now as well.

Sat there last time I was there. And on this day, I think the theme (they have some gimmicky kind of "theme" iPod playlist, which is different every day) the theme was really bad early 80s electronica. We were seated at that table, and we had to leave half-way through our meal, it was so grating and loud.